The morning after the festival, sunlight streamed through the classroom windows, illuminating dust motes and the faint remnants of glitter on Aoi's desk. She scrubbed furiously at a sticky stain left by rogue matcha, her movements sharp enough to startle a passing first-year.
"Need a hand, Prez?" Kaito leaned against the doorframe, a mop slung over his shoulder like a baseball bat.
Aoi didn't glance up. "I'd prefer competent help over comedic help."
"Ouch." He slid into the room, dragging the mop in a lazy arc. "Guess I'll just… admire your dedication."
She stiffened as his shadow fell across her desk. "Shouldn't you be dismantling the photo exhibit?"
"Done. Even labeled them Tree_3.jpg through Tree_10.jpg for your convenience."
Aoi's cheeks warmed, recalling the album hidden in her bag. "How… thorough."
Their eyes met—brief, electric—before the PA system crackled to life.
"Takahashi and Arashi, report to the faculty office!"
---
Vice Principal Saito beamed over steepled fingers. "Your festival committee work was exemplary! We're assigning you to plan the upcoming alumni reunion."
Kaito choked on his green tea. "Together?"
"Collaboration breeds excellence," Saito said, ignoring Aoi's death grip on her chair.
---
By noon, they'd migrated to the library, spreadsheets and coffee cups colonizing their table. Aoi's pen tapped a militant rhythm. "We'll need a timeline, budget, and theme by Friday."
Kaito spun a pencil between his fingers. "How about 'Nostalgia Under the Stars'? String lights, old yearbook photos…"
Aoi paused. "That's… not terrible."
"High praise." He grinned, leaning back. "What's your idea?"
"'Echoes of Tradition'—calligraphy displays, tea ceremonies."
"Predictable."
"Respectful," she corrected, though her lips twitched.
The librarian shushed them. Aoi lowered her voice. "We could… combine them. Blending old and new."
Kaito's knee brushed hers under the table. "Compromise? Who are you?"
She jerked back, knocking over her coffee. Liquid cascaded toward her notes—Kaito lunged, catching the cup mid-air.
"Saved your spreadsheets, robot." He smirked, hand still atop hers.
Aoi yanked free, heart racing. "T-thank you. Now focus."
---
After school, Yuki cornered Aoi in the courtyard. "Spill. Why's your face redder than Hiro's firecracker mishap?"
"Sunburn," Aoi lied, adjusting her glasses.
"Liar~! You and Kaito-kun were vibing in the library!"
"We were working." Aoi plucked a cherry blossom petal from Yuki's hair. "He's just… less incompetent than I thought."
Yuki grinned. "Progress!"
---
Meanwhile, Kaito lingered at the photo exhibit, now stripped bare. On a whim, he pinned a single picture to the empty board—Tree_2.jpg, Aoi bathed in lantern light.
Hiro ambled by, whistling. "Bold move. She'll kill you."
"Worth it," Kaito muttered, snapping a photo of the display.
The petals outside trembled in the breeze, carrying whispers of a secret neither dared speak.